Breakdown of Tu tens de ter atitude para ter sucesso.
tu
you
ter
to have
para
to
ter de
to have to
o sucesso
the success
a atitude
the attitude
Questions & Answers about Tu tens de ter atitude para ter sucesso.
What does tens de mean in this sentence, and how is it constructed?
Tens de is a modal construction used to express obligation in European Portuguese. It comes from the verb ter (to have). In the phrase, tens is the conjugated form for tu (informal “you”), and de functions similarly to “to” in the English modal expression “have to.” Together with the infinitive that follows, it conveys that one must perform a certain action—in this case, having attitude is necessary to succeed.
Why is the verb ter used twice in the sentence?
The structure uses ter in two different ways. The first instance, tens, is the conjugated form of ter for the subject tu, serving as the auxiliary verb that expresses obligation (similar to saying “you have to…”). The second instance is the infinitive ter in ter atitude, which specifies the action required: to have attitude. This separation into a modal verb phrase is common in Portuguese and closely parallels English constructions like “have to have.”
What is the role of the preposition para in this sentence?
Para functions as a purpose indicator similar to “in order to” in English. In the sentence, para ter sucesso explains the goal or outcome of having attitude. It links the necessity of the action (having attitude) with its intended result (success).
What does atitude imply in this context?
Atitude in Portuguese, much like in English, goes beyond a mere physical stance. It implies a proactive, determined mindset or approach. In this context, it suggests that having a positive and assertive demeanor is a crucial ingredient for achieving success.
Is the usage of tu tens de specific to European Portuguese, and how does it compare with other dialects?
Yes, tu tens de is typical of European Portuguese, where the informal second person singular tu is commonly used, and the verb ter is conjugated accordingly. In Brazilian Portuguese, the pronoun você is more frequently used—in which case the equivalent expression would be você tem de ter atitude para ter sucesso. Despite the difference in pronoun and verb form, both constructions express the same essential meaning of obligation.
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